Pressure Cooker Explodes Causing Woman Severe Burns

Case Overview

This case involves a 26-year-old plaintiff who was injured during a pressure cooker explosion. The device in question was a 6-qt pressure, slow, and rice cooker. Less than one month after purchasing the pressure cooker, the plaintiff was using the device in the kitchen of her home. She proceeded to twist the valve to release the vapor. The device made loud sounds and water abruptly exploded onto the plaintiff’s neck, chest, and hands. The plaintiff suffered severe second-degree burns from the incident. She was taken to a medical center where she remained hospitalized for over a week. The plaintiff was left with scarring and disfigurement from the burns. An expert in pressure cooker engineering was sought to conduct a failure analysis of the device in question to determine whether the product was defective.

Questions to the Mechanical Engineering expert and their responses

Please briefly discuss your background working with pressure cookers.

I have nearly 15 years of engineering experience, during which I have conducted failure analysis of pressure cookers on several occasions.

Do you have experience in conducting failure analysis on pressure cookers?

I have conducted failure analysis of pressure cookers on several occasions.

Are you familiar with the dangers of defective pressure cookers?

I am familiar with the dangers of defective pressure cookers and am confident in my ability to review the case and would be willing to testify.

About the expert

This expert has over 20 years of experience as a professional engineer. He earned his BS and MS in mechanical engineering and mechanics at Drexel University. Today, he is a licensed professional engineer and he holds an additional certification as an accident reconstructionist. He stays very active in his field, as he is a holder of 2 patents and a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Safety Engineers. Previously, he was a project engineer at Boehringer Laboratories, an engineer at Ametek Aerospace, a team leader for Drexel?s SAE team, and an engineer at the Clayton H. Landis Company. Currently, he is a mechanical engineer and accident reconstructionist at a forensic engineering firm in Pennsylvania, where he specializes in the safety of mechanical systems and devices including automotive, marine and boating, aviation, recreational, commercial, and industrial equipment.